What To Watch: December 8 - 14

Is Netflix's New Mega Budget Series Any Good?

Christmas might still be a couple of weeks away, but we know you’ve been good this year, so we’re treating you to some early presents with a What to Watch crammed full of great TV.

Whilst there are series finales of Gracepoint and Sons of Anarchy, alongside the small matter of the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, to contend with, the biggest treat by far comes in the form of Marco Polo, Netflix’s mega budget original series, which debuts this week.

Based on the explorer’s 25-year expedition along the Silk Road (and not the aquatic entertainment pursued in pools across the country), the series is the video streaming giant’s most ambitious yet; a lavish production that’s already being labelled as one of the most expensive shows ever made. Indeed the only show that has cost more than the $90 million frittered away on the 10-episode series is HBO’s blockbuster-esque Game of Thrones.

On first glance, it’s easy to see where some of that money was spent. Marco Polo is stunningly shot with no expense spared on locations, which include Italy, Kazakhstan and Malaysia.

However, we’ve seen expensive series flop before, of course, so the real test will come when viewers are given the chance to scratch below the show’s stunning surface. That shouldn’t be a problem, given Netflix’s track record for producing brilliantly binge-watchable shows. Whether Marco Polo deserves to be mentioned in the same vein as hits like House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black, though, remains to be seen.

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Marco Polo – Netflix – Friday, December 12th

Stunning landscapes, exquisite period costumes and copious amounts of gratuitous nudity — Marco Polo is everything you’d expect from the type of lavish historical drama you usually see on cable. Except that it’s not on cable, it’s on Netflix.

The video streaming giant’s latest series is a departure from its usual fare, but expectations are high ahead of an epic adventure, which will follow the famous Venetian merchant on his exploration of Asia and experiences in the court of Kublai Khan. With all 10 episodes landing online this week, you can either ration the series to see you through the festive break or binge-watch it all in an entire weekend. Either way, you won’t be disappointed.